Editorial: Free spending in Southaven

Mayor's expenses under scrutiny: Citizens have a right to expect a more professional approach toward public accounting.

November 2, 2011 - Southaven Mayor Greg Davis addresses the media following a meeting with state auditor Stacey Pickering where the state issued a demand against Davis in the amount of $170,782.28 for personal travel and expenses paid for by the city. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal)

Don't fault Southaven citizens who are not satisfied with their mayor's explanation of perhaps as much as $170,000 worth of personal bills charged to taxpayers.

Or for being less than happy with a board of aldermen that may not have kept an eye on Mayor Greg Davis' expenses for nearly three years.

The "bookkeeping" errors that led to a state auditor's investigation of Davis' spending, as the mayor described the situation, simply should not occur in Mississippi's third-largest city.

Citizens have a right to expect professionalism and accountability in a local government of any size. But that things could be that loose for that long in Southaven is shocking.

Expenses charged to taxpayers, according to Auditor Stacey Pickering, included a two-week counseling session for Davis at an upscale Arizona clinic.

Other items under the microscope include a personal trip to Key West, Fla., clothing and several travel bills for business recruitment -- some of which may turn out to be legitimate expenses.

Davis has 30 days to repay the $170,782.28 found by the auditor not to have been properly documented or come up with receipts that demonstrate the spending was related to city business.

So far, Davis plans to remain in office and, in fact, seek re-election at the end of his four-year term in 2013, he said.

The 44-year-old mayor has developed a reputation as a progressive leader over his 14 years in office -- a period that has not only seen phenomenal growth, but also significant civic improvements.

Nothing excuses a government official who fails to carefully distinguish between spending on personal and public business, however, no matter how honest the public official's reputation might be.

Whether local government bodies are flush with cash or straining to pay the bills, ongoing internal auditing should be in place to prevent even the appearance of abuse.

Credibility is one of the keys to successful governance, and in Southaven it has slipped.